View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerCleveland Indians Matt LaPorta connects for his 2nd hit of the game against the Minnesota Twins Sunday afternoon.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Matt LaPorta is back in Cleveland. How long he remains is uncertain.

The Indians officially recalled LaPorta from Class AAA Columbus on Sunday after placing left fielder Johnny Damon on the paternity list. Damon can remain on that list for up to three days; he told reporters late Saturday night that he would return for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

LaPorta played first base and batted seventh in his season debut with the Tribe. He went 1-for-4 with a single and a run in a 6-3 loss to Minnesota.

At the time of his promotion, LaPorta was hitting .307 with eight doubles, 14 homers and 32 RBI in 46 games for the Clippers. The numbers included .333 (19-for-57) with four homers against lefties.

"I'm up here hopefully to help contribute to this ballclub," he said. "If it's two days, three days, a week -- doesn't matter."

The LaPorta who met with reporters after batting practice was polite, as usual. But his words came with an edge.

"I just need to have fun, play the game the way I know how and not worry about what [the media is] thinking, what somebody else is thinking or what a fan is thinking," he said. "It's been a problem that I've had to overcome. I can't control what other people think. I'm not in control of somebody else's happiness. If they want to be upset about my performance, sorry."

LaPorta, who had appeared in 19 games in left field and 18 games at first for the Clippers, cooled after a blazing start.

"At the beginning, his numbers were a lot better at home than on the road, but the overall numbers are there," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He's been doing a good job. If you look at the amount of at-bats he's had in [Class AAA] the last couple of years, the numbers are pretty good.

"They felt that he was doing the right things over there. He was having success and hitting mistakes whenever [pitchers] made mistakes on him. We have to see that translate up here."

Acta said there are is no set schedule for LaPorta's playing time, or where he plays.

"We don't have any amount of games here and there," Acta said. "We want to see him have quality at-bats. That's all I can ask him to do."

LaPorta, acquired from Milwaukee in the CC Sabathia trade in July 2008, played a combined 113 games with the Clippers the previous three seasons. As a member of the Indians in that span, he was a .238 hitter in 269 games.

"I think Manny's mentioned that it's [Class AAA], that it's different than in the big leagues," LaPorta said. "We'll see what happens up here."

LaPorta said he "saw the writing on the wall" that he would not break camp with the Tribe. He refused to let another trip to Columbus get him down.

"I mean, I'm still blessed personally," he said. "I have a great family, a healthy kid. I can't complain."

Big-league Choo: Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo is restless.

Choo's base numbers -- .270 with three homers, 17 RBI, 29 runs in 47 games -- are serviceable, but they are far below the standard he sets for himself and, for that matter, what his team expects from him.

Choo is itching to return to paces consistent with 2009, when he batted .300 with 20 homers, 86 RBI and 87 runs in 156 games. Or 2010, when he batted .300 with 22 homers, 90 RBI and 81 runs in 144 games.

Last year, he batted .259 in a season shortened to 85 games primarily because of injury.

"I know there are still four months left, and it's not how you start but how you finish," Choo said. "Still, it's a little frustrating right now because I haven't been able to make that big jump. I haven't really gotten hot. A month ago, I thought I was getting there, but I didn't get it going the way I know I can."

Days such as Sunday should help ease the mind. Choo went 2-for-4, including a ringing double to right-center off of lefty Scott Diamond.

Choo has gotten better since being moved to the leadoff spot in May. Choo, though, is not convinced that simply batting leadoff will be the elixir.

"People see the numbers get better and think, 'Maybe he's more comfortable in the leadoff spot,' " he said. "But really, I don't feel any different. I'm not going to lead off every time I come up, and I haven't changed my approach. I'm still swinging at first pitches when necessary."

Other than minor aches and pains that come with a season, Choo said, he feels healthy. But he is not especially comfortable in the box.

"Maybe I'm thinking too much," he said. "When you feel good, you don't think about anything. You just hit the ball. I know what that's like. Right now, I'm probably thinking too much about mechanics, stuff like that."